LAHORE – Millions of Pakistanis are awaiting the final results of Wednesday’s general polls as the Election Commission (ECP) is yet to release an important election document – the Form 45. Form 45 is a document which contains data of

LAHORE – Millions of Pakistanis are awaiting the final results of Wednesday’s general polls as the Election Commission (ECP) is yet to release an important election document – the Form 45.

Form 45 is a document which contains data of every candidate with their names as well as how many votes they received. It is signed by Returning Officers and polling staff after the vote count.

What is the RTS system and what collapsed? According to presiding officer i talked to, they were supposed to install an Android app from the Play store on their personal phone. In that app they were supposed to log in and take a photo of form 45. That photo…

The polling agents are supposed to stamp and thumbprint it for the record. It was supposed to be sent via the Results Transmission System (RTS), but now, according to the ECP officials, votes dropped in the ballot boxes are being manually counted by presiding officers and assistants present in polling booths.

Severe irregularities observed from POs refusing to start count in some Polling Stations to POs refusing to give official results on Form 45 on various polling stations. The election process has been highly questionable and is anything but transparent. #NA247#PS111pic.twitter.com/zPOVLhGcf9

After the count, officers will transfer these boxes into sealed bags provided by the ECP. The bags will then handed over to the Returning Officer (RO) who will give them to the District Returning Officer (DRO).